Japanese Martial Arts ArticlesArticles on Japanese Martial Arts, including Karate, Ninjutsu, Judo, Aikido and moreMon, 21 Jan 2019 22:08:18 +0000Mon, 21 Jan 2019 22:08:18 +0000Martial Arts Planethttps://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/japanese-martial-arts-articles.155/
Did the masters get it right?Fri, 16 Nov 2018 23:02:03 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/did-the-masters-get-it-right.126564/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/did-the-masters-get-it-right.126564/invalid@example.com (Telsun)Telsun
I hope you enjoy them and that they give you some food for thought....

Did the masters get...​

Did the masters get it right?]]>11Contact in TrainingTue, 04 Sep 2018 17:07:04 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/contact-in-training.110819/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/contact-in-training.110819/invalid@example.com (John Titchen)John TitchenCONTACT IN TRAINING

PART ONE – MAKING CONTACT – A RATIONALE

With this article being written for Jissen, it is likely that the core readership already make physical contact in training on a regular basis. By contact in training I refer to the actual act of striking something or someone in training. In this issue I will be discussing the rational for making contact/hitting things, in the companion article I will be looking at the rationale for receiving contact in training.

Contact...

Contact in Training]]>8The Ultimate Guide to Judo Part 1Sat, 07 Jul 2018 04:46:46 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-ultimate-guide-to-judo-part-1.121286/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-ultimate-guide-to-judo-part-1.121286/invalid@example.com (benkei)benkeiThe Ultimate Guide to Judo Part 1]]>6Japanese arts in the Durham region of Ontario CanadaSat, 09 Dec 2017 05:06:18 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/japanese-arts-in-the-durham-region-of-ontario-canada.131132/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/japanese-arts-in-the-durham-region-of-ontario-canada.131132/invalid@example.com (bujingodai)bujingodai
I am not interested in travelling to Toronto area, I work there everyday don't wish to spend any more time there.

Any suggestions]]>5The different styles / systems of Karate: Part-I, The earliest systemsFri, 08 Dec 2017 19:34:38 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-different-styles-systems-of-karate-part-i-the-earliest-systems.114503/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-different-styles-systems-of-karate-part-i-the-earliest-systems.114503/invalid@example.com (Manila-X)Manila-X
Since there are many systems of karate, I decided to break it by parts starting with this one which covers some of the earliest systems of Karate that developed from the traditional Okinawan fighting arts such as Shuri-te and Naha-te.

The use of coloured belts as recognition of achievement is a relatively new concept. It was introduced in Japan by Jigaro Kano, the founder of Judo, in 1907, so at the time of this writing the system is just under 100 years old...

Kankū-dai (観空大), is an open hand karate kata that is studied by many practitioners of Okinawan, Japanese and Korean karate. In many karate styles, there are two versions of the kata: Kankū-sho and Kankū-dai. The name of the Kata differs across Karate styles however the original name, Kūsankū (クーサンクー) or Kōsōkun (公相君) is used in Okinawan systems...

Kanku-Dai Bunkai Drill – Opening Moves (video)]]>4Aikido the WordWed, 16 Dec 2015 01:39:34 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/aikido-the-word.116066/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/aikido-the-word.116066/invalid@example.com (OwlMAtt)OwlMAtt'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

Before I start, I'd like to give a warning to anyone reading this. Many people, especially on the internet, find semantic arguments to be inconsequential and pretentious. Little is more common on an internet...

Aikido the Word]]>2Of Tsuki And TachiTue, 12 May 2015 00:31:28 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/of-tsuki-and-tachi.89537/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/of-tsuki-and-tachi.89537/invalid@example.com (Fish Of Doom)Fish Of Doom
Greetings and salutations, fellow inhabitants of the internet. For those of you who might not know me, my name is Diego Romero, and I’ve been a regular at MAP forums since december of 2004, under the moniker ‘Fish Of Doom’. I’m a Karateka first and foremost, with my full training time (As of this writing, 9 years and somewhere around 6 months) in Hayashi-Ha ****o-Ryu, holding the rank of shodan in the Style, and with...

Of Tsuki And Tachi]]>31Bunkai- a beginners guideThu, 19 Mar 2015 06:36:22 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bunkai-a-beginners-guide.106589/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bunkai-a-beginners-guide.106589/invalid@example.com (ArthurKing)ArthurKing
We begin with 2 premises-
1 You know all the aspects of the Kata very well- stances, footwork, posture and striking and blocking techniques. So start with what...

Bunkai- a beginners guide]]>1[Karate] Kihon training and Uke-WazaFri, 13 Mar 2015 15:57:38 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/karate-kihon-training-and-uke-waza.123756/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/karate-kihon-training-and-uke-waza.123756/invalid@example.com (Fish Of Doom)Fish Of Doom
Disclaimer: This is my take on the subject, based on my training history and experience, and is not a complete representation of the totality of karate. There are more than enough exceptions at the style, organization and school levels that this is not so much an authorative text but rather an opinion piece, so take it for what it's worth. It can be taken as a companion piece to my earlier article on punching mechanics (Which I will probably eventually update once...

Firstly it is worth realising that the modern grappling systems owe much to the ancient ones. Without the old school methods there would be no new school methods. We should pay great respect to the traditional methods but also not live in the past. Everything evolves otherwise we would as human beings would still be swimming in the sea, riding horses and carts instead of cars,...

Old School Jujutsu vs Modern Submission Grappling]]>20The Duty of the "Teki" in Kata-geikoTue, 20 Jan 2015 09:40:17 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-duty-of-the-teki-in-kata-geiko.123183/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-duty-of-the-teki-in-kata-geiko.123183/invalid@example.com (Kogusoku)Kogusoku
By Stephen Delaney

When compared to more modern forms of budō, the duty of the uke or teki in koryū bujutsu is a different kettle of fish for many reasons. The terminologies are usually the first major noticable difference; Usually the term uke is commonly translated as “one who recieves” or aite (Lit. Partner) is used in various koryū ryūha and other modern forms of budō. In swordsmanship related disciplines, the term for the antagonist in...

The Duty of the "Teki" in Kata-geiko]]>3Using the Power of Ritual to Get More Out of JudoFri, 30 May 2014 10:07:21 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/using-the-power-of-ritual-to-get-more-out-of-judo.121260/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/using-the-power-of-ritual-to-get-more-out-of-judo.121260/invalid@example.com (benkei)benkei​
I was at the gym tonight training when I took the above photo. Immediately a few of the guys started hollering "selfie!" and the like, and one of the older guys came over chuckling, and asked why I was taking pictures of myself. I told him I was writing an article on rituals, and he looked at me curiously before asking what a picture had to do with it. I said to him, "don't you notice...

Using the Power of Ritual to Get More Out of Judo]]>What is a Dan grade and how to deal with becoming one - some personal reflectionsTue, 15 Apr 2014 18:55:41 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/what-is-a-dan-grade-and-how-to-deal-with-becoming-one-some-personal-reflections.101101/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/what-is-a-dan-grade-and-how-to-deal-with-becoming-one-some-personal-reflections.101101/invalid@example.com (Llamageddon)LlamageddonWhat is a Dan grade and how to deal with becoming one - some personal reflections]]>34Why I LARPTue, 10 Dec 2013 07:45:11 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/why-i-larp.108787/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/why-i-larp.108787/invalid@example.com (Hayseed)HayseedWhy I LARP
Confessions of a Budo Taijutsu
Hobbyist​
I have always felt, throughout my youth as a martial arts enthusiast, that there has always been a key component absent from my experience. It would be logical to assume that the missing component lies in various arts’ differences in philosophy and mechanical quality of function; but I’ve come to the tentative conclusion that their common perspective is where this missing component hides....

Sensitivity training in the Martial Arts is not just about knowing where the next punch is coming from. It's more about being aware. Being aware of your surroundings. Being aware of yourself. Sure, it's nice to feel that next punch BEFORE it comes, and the exercises I will describe here will help develop the sensitivity. But the main purpose is to bring you back in tune with yourself and your surroundings.

A little background may be in order before...

Sensitivity Training]]>29BuWed, 15 May 2013 19:24:10 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bu.116059/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bu.116059/invalid@example.com (Kanken)KankenBujutsu is for killing people

“Bujutsu is for killing people” U. Kenji

This sentence by Ushiro Kenji, who is well-respected in Karate as well as Aikido circles, should provide some food for thought regardless of what martial art we are training.

All the things we practice were once intended to kill or maim people. Are we ready to train with this in mind? If worst comes to worst am I able to break someone’s neck or fingers, or, or, or…?

The first step should be to ask...

Bu]]>Bunkai- a beginners guide (please replace old version)Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:20:14 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bunkai-a-beginners-guide-please-replace-old-version.115441/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/bunkai-a-beginners-guide-please-replace-old-version.115441/invalid@example.com (ArthurKing)ArthurKing
We begin with 3 premises-
1 You (and the students) know all the aspects of the Kata very well- stances, footwork, posture and striking and blocking techniques. So...

Bunkai- a beginners guide (please replace old version)]]>The different styles / systems of Karate: Part-II, The descendent systemsMon, 18 Feb 2013 13:50:30 +0000https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-different-styles-systems-of-karate-part-ii-the-descendent-systems.114614/
https://www.martialartsplanet.com/threads/the-different-styles-systems-of-karate-part-ii-the-descendent-systems.114614/invalid@example.com (Manila-X)Manila-X
As with the development from the earliest systems of Okinawan Karate many of it's students have made further studies of their system and incorporating other systems to their knowledge including other forms of martial arts from both Japan and from other countries.

This leads to the development of new systems including dojos setup by some of these students to promote such.